Electromechanical integrated machine for electrified vehicles

Abstract

An electromechanical integrated machine (EIM) according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an internal rotor coupled to a vehicle wheel and an external rotor coupled to a flywheel. An electrified vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a first EIM associated with a first wheel, a second EIM associated with a second wheel, a battery having energy to power the first and second wheels, and a flywheel to receive energy from the first and second EIMs during braking. Each EIM includes an internal rotor coupled to the respective first or second wheel and an external rotor coupled to the flywheel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electromechanical integrated machine (EIM) comprising:
 a first internal rotor comprising an internal permanent magnet rotor that is coupled to a first vehicle wheel; 
 a first external rotor coupled to a flywheel; 
 a second internal rotor comprising an internal winding armature rotor that is coupled to a second vehicle wheel; and 
 a second external rotor coupled to the flywheel, wherein the first and second external rotors are coupled to the flywheel via a differential, and wherein the first external rotor comprises an external winding armature rotor that is connected through the differential to the flywheel, and the second external rotor comprises an external permanent magnet rotor that is connected through the differential to the flywheel. 
 
     
     
       2. The electromechanical integrated machine as recited in  claim 1  wherein kinetic energy is transferred to the flywheel by an electromagnetic torque generated between the external and internal rotors to provide a motor mode, a generator mode, a torque converter as a brake mode, and a torque converter as a power boost mode without requiring a clutch. 
     
     
       3. The electromechanical integrated machine as recited in  claim 2  wherein, when in the motor mode, an electromagnetic positive torque is generated between the external and internal rotors to drive the vehicle wheels while the flywheel is braked. 
     
     
       4. The electromechanical integrated machine as recited in  claim 3  wherein, when in the generator mode, service brakes are applied to the vehicle wheels and an electromagnetic negative torque is generated between the external and internal rotors to transfer flywheel energy to a battery. 
     
     
       5. The electromechanical integrated machine as recited in  claim 4  wherein, when in the torque converter as the brake mode, an electromagnetic negative torque is generated between the external and internal rotors such that the internal rotors brake the vehicle wheels while the external rotors accelerate the flywheel to transfer vehicle inertia energy to the flywheel. 
     
     
       6. The electromechanical integrated machine as recited in  claim 5  wherein, when in the torque converter as the power boost mode, an electromagnetic positive torque is generated between the external and internal rotors such that energy stored in the flywheel and the battery are both used to accelerate the vehicle wheels. 
     
     
       7. The electromechanical integrated machine as recited in  claim 1  wherein an electromagnetic torque, induced by alternating current supplied to the winding armature rotors, is applied between the internal and external rotors accelerating the internal and external rotors in opposite ways such that, when an electromagnetic field below a frequency of the first and second wheels is applied, an electromagnetic negative torque is generated for braking while at the same time accelerating the flywheel. 
     
     
       8. An electrified vehicle comprising:
 a first EIM associated with a first wheel; 
 a second EIM associated with a second wheel; 
 a battery having energy to power the first and second wheels; and 
 a flywheel to receive energy from the first and second EIMs during braking, wherein each EIM includes an internal rotor coupled to the respective first or second wheel and an external rotor coupled to the flywheel, and wherein the external rotors are coupled to the flywheel via a differential, and wherein the internal rotor of the first EIM comprises an internal permanent magnet rotor that is connected to the first wheel and the external rotor of the first EIM comprises an external winding armature rotor that is connected through the differential to the flywheel, and wherein the internal rotor of the second EIM comprises an internal winding armature rotor that is connected to the second wheel and the external rotor of the second EIM comprises an external permanent magnet rotor that is connected through the differential to the flywheel. 
 
     
     
       9. The electrified vehicle as recited in  claim 8  including a control unit configured to operate the first and second EIMs to provide a motor mode, a generator mode, a torque converter as a brake mode, and a torque converter as a power boost mode. 
     
     
       10. The electrified vehicle as recited in  claim 9  wherein, when in the torque converter as the brake mode, an electromagnetic negative torque is generated between the external and internal rotors, such that the internal rotors brake the first and second wheels while the external rotor accelerates the flywheel to transfer vehicle inertia energy to the flywheel. 
     
     
       11. The electrified vehicle as recited in  claim 9  wherein, when in the torque converter as the power boost mode, an electromagnetic positive torque is generated between the external and internal rotors such that energy stored in the flywheel and the battery are both used to accelerate the first and second wheels. 
     
     
       12. The electrified vehicle as recited in  claim 9  wherein, when in the motor mode, an electromagnetic positive torque is generated between the external and internal rotors such that the battery provides energy to drive the first and second wheels while the flywheel is braked. 
     
     
       13. The electrified vehicle as recited in  claim 9  wherein, when in the generator mode, service brakes are applied to the first and second wheels and an electromagnetic negative torque is generated between the external and internal rotors to transfer flywheel energy to the battery. 
     
     
       14. The electrified vehicle as recited in  claim 8  wherein the differential is positioned laterally between the first and second EIMs, and wherein the flywheel is positioned to extend at least partially below the differential in a vertical direction to lower a vehicle center of gravity. 
     
     
       15. The electrified vehicle as recited in  claim 8  wherein the internal rotors are coupled to the first and second wheels via respective first and second gear sets. 
     
     
       16. The electrified vehicle as recited in  claim 8  wherein kinetic energy is transferred to the flywheel by an electromagnetic torque generated between the winding armature rotors and the permanent magnet rotors without requiring a clutch. 
     
     
       17. A method comprising:
 associating a first EIM with a first wheel; 
 associating a second EIM with a second wheel; 
 providing a battery to power the first and second wheels; and 
 transferring energy to a flywheel from the first and second EIMs during braking, wherein each EIM includes an internal rotor coupled to the respective first or second wheel and an external rotor coupled to the flywheel, and wherein the external rotors are coupled to the flywheel via a differential, and wherein the internal rotor of the first EIM comprises an internal permanent magnet rotor that is connected to the first wheel and the external rotor of the first EIM comprises an external winding armature rotor that is connected through the differential to the flywheel, and wherein the internal rotor of the second EIM comprises an internal winding armature rotor that is connected to the second wheel and the external rotor of the second EIM comprises an external permanent magnet rotor that is connected through the differential to the flywheel. 
 
     
     
       18. The method as recited in  claim 17  including operating the first and second EIMs to provide a motor mode, a generator mode, a torque converter as a brake mode, and a torque converter as a power boost mode. 
     
     
       19. The method as recited in  claim 18  including generating an electromagnetic negative torque between the external and internal rotors when in the torque converter as the brake mode such that the internal rotors brake the first and second wheels while the external rotor accelerates the flywheel to transfer vehicle inertia energy to the flywheel. 
     
     
       20. The method as recited in  claim 18  including generating an electromagnetic positive torque between the external and internal rotors when in the torque converter as the power boost mode such that energy stored in the flywheel and the battery are both used to accelerate the first and second wheels. 
     
     
       21. The method as recited in  claim 18  including
 generating an electromagnetic positive torque between the external and internal rotors when in the motor mode such that the battery provides energy to drive the first and second wheels while the flywheel is braked, and 
 generating an electromagnetic negative torque between the external and internal rotors when in the generator mode to transfer flywheel energy to the battery while applying service brakes to the first and second wheels. 
 
     
     
       22. The method as recited in  claim 17  wherein an electromagnetic torque, induced by alternating current supplied to the winding armature rotors, is applied between the internal and external rotors accelerating the internal and external rotors in opposite ways such that, when an electromagnetic field below a frequency of the first and second wheels is applied, an electromagnetic negative torque is generated for braking while at the same time accelerating the flywheel.